Council voted, 4-0, to authorize Solicitor Kenneth Schuster to negotiate a contract with Remington, Vernick and Beach Engineers. Earlier this month, council also hired the Conshohocken-based firm to provide building code inspection services to the city.

The all-Democrat council also voted, 4-0, to terminate the services of Catania Engineering Associates, based in Ridley Township. Charles Catania, one of the brothers in the iconic Republican family from Ridley, did not return a call seeking comment.

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Councilwoman Portia West said Catania Engineering Associates' contract had expired last year, but that the firm had been working with the city on an as-needed basis. She said council hired Remington, Vernick and Beach primarily for cost-saving measures.

"Mr. Catania had provided a lot of good services to the city of Chester for many years," West said. "I don't have anything negative to say for his years of service. We are going in a different direction. We are looking at cost-saving opportunities."

West said she did not have an estimate on specific savings, but that the new firm also will be working on an as-needed basis.

Mayor John Linder abstained from both votes, as well as two votes to combine three land parcels along the 2500 block of West Third Street and allow Young Wah Suh to construct a building for automotive use.

Linder said he abstained because he did not feel he had a chance to properly review the information.

"Some things came a little late for me to comment on and I didn't feel comfortable (voting)," Linder said. "There were some things that I rather would have not voted on. It didn't stop it and it wouldn't have made a difference one way or the other."

Council also voted, 5-0, to award a contract to Suburban Waste Services, of Wilmington, Del., to collect and dispose of rubbish, garbage and recyclables. Council approved a three-year contract totaling $1.68 million.

West said the city currently pays nearly $69,000 for trash and recycling collection. Under the new contract, she said the city will pay about $46,000 per month.

West said trash services will remain the same with one exception -- trash pickup will occur once a week all year. The city previously collected trash twice a week from May to November. Recycling collection will remain the same, she said.

Now that the city is paying a lower price for trash collection, West said council would have to examine the possibility of lowering residents' trash-collection fees.

Council also unanimously approved an $86,723 loan to the Chester Economic Development Authority to enable the cash-strapped organization to pay its operating expenses through the calendar year.